Johnson (19-4) was scheduled to face Jon Jones at this event prior to Jones’ suspension, which allowed Cormier (15-1) to step in. Cormier is coming off a five-round decision loss to Jones in January, but he was unbeaten prior to that. Johnson has won nine straight fights, including three straight since his return to the UFC as a light heavyweight. He previously fought in the organization as a welterweight, but struggled to make the weight.

The latest odds according to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv have Johnson now as the slight favorite at -120, while Cormier is listed at -110. These two will meet in the main event of UFC 187 tonight, which takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will air live on PPV at 10PM ET.

This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup. Cormier is an Olympic-level wrestler that has used his strength to throw around opponents in the past. Johnson, though he fought at 170 pounds in the past, has shown tremendous strength and power since moving up to 205 pounds. He has been able to out-grapple strong wrestlers and KO his last two opponents in minutes. The key to this fight will be how long it goes. Johnson will likely need to win with a quick KO in the first or second round. Once the fight goes past 10 minutes, Cormier should have the clear edge because of his conditioning. Johnson isn’t known for having the endurance. Cormier hasn’t been knocked out in his career, and I don’t see it happening tonight. Look for Johnson to start fast, but for Cormier to survive and then grind out the final three rounds to earn a decision victory and become the new 205-pound champion.

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